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Step Test Females
Step Test Females
Indian women often report premature exhaustion in the lower limb while performing the
Harvard step test (HST) for measurement of physical fitness index (PFI) whereas they can
easily perform the Queens college step test (QCT). 155 sedentary females of 19-24 years
were selected for the study from Institute of Dental Sciences, UP, India to evaluate the
applicability of QCT as an alternative of HST. They were divided into study group (n=100)
and confirmatory group (n=55). All subjects performed QCT comfortably but 35 (20 from
study group and 15 from confirmatory group) of them could not properly perform the HST
due to premature fatigue in their legs and therefore these 35 subjects were discarded from
the study. Existence of significant correlation (r =-0.90, P<0.001) between PFI and QCT
heart rate depicted the following prediction norm for PFI from QCT heart rate : Y = 195.06
3.09 X (SEE = 3.09). Prediction of PFI by this norm in the confi rmatory group showed
insignificant variation with the directly measured value from the HST. Bland and Altmans
analysis also indicated that QCT norm predicts the PFI with 95% confi dence interval.
Moreover, QCT is easy to perform and the derived norm from QCT predicted the PFI score
with substantially small standard error of estimate. Therefore, QCT is recommended as
a valid and authentic test for evaluating PFI in young sedentary females of Uttar Pradesh,
India.
Keywords: QCT, Harvard step test, PFI, Indian females
[International Journal of Sport and Health Science Vol.6, 15-20 2008]
1. Introduction
Measurement of Physical fi tness index (PFI)
is extremely valuable in the fi eld of Sports and
Exercise Science and it is determined by Modifi ed
Harvard Step Test (HST) (Sloan 1959, Chatterjee,
et al., 2002). Sedentary Indians are often compelled
to stop the stepping exercise of HST because of
some premature fatigue in their lower limbs rather
than cardiorespiratory exhaustion (Bandyopadhyay
2007). The subjects report that the stool height and
the stepping cadence of HST are very high which
hinder the comfortable lifting up and pulling down
their legs during the stepping process and that leads
to onset of premature fatigue in their legs. The
biomechanical efficiency and work rate is determined
by the step height (Francis and Brasher 1992).
The HST was designed on the Western population
whose stature and knee height are generally higher
than those of the populations of Eastern countries
International Journal of Sport and Health Science Vol.6, 15-20, 2008
http://www.soc.nii.ac.jp/jspe3/index.htm
Bandyopadhyay, A.
2. Methodology
2.1. Study population
One hundred and fi fty fi ve (155) healthy young
sedentary female students belonging to age group
of 19 to 24 years from the same socio-economic
background were recruited for the study on the basis
of simple random sampling from Institute of Dental
Sciences, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. Out of
the 155 participants, 100 individuals were further
separated by simple random sampling method as
Study Group and the remaining 55 participants
were termed as Confi rmatory Group. All the
participants performed QCT properly but 20 and 15
participants from Study Group and Confirmatory
Group, respectively, reported early onset of pain in
the leg muscles while performing the HST and failed
to complete the test properly due to the premature
fatigue in lower limbs. Hence they were discarded
from the study.
Age of each subject was calculated to the nearest
year from the date of birth as obtained from the
Institutes record. Body mass and body height were
measured with a standard weighing machine that
included a height measuring stand (Avery India Ltd.,
India). Body mass was measured to an accuracy of +
0.250 kg and height to an accuracy of + 0.50 cm.
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Body
Height
(cm)
Body
Mass
(kg)
QCT Heart
Rate or QHR
(Beats)
PFI
Study Group
(n = 80)
20.80
+ 2.15
158.27
+ 2.17
51.43
+ 3.61
42.33
+ 1.88
64.26
+ 6.46
Confirmatory Group
(n = 40)
21.04
+ 2.60
NS
159.05
+ 2.74
NS
50.82
+ 4.18
NS
42.07
+ 2.05
NS
63.40
+ 5.66
NS
3. Results
Age
(Years)
0
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
-1
-2
-3
Average of PFI value obtained from direct measurement and from the norm
Mean of difference
Mean + 2 SD
Y = 1.0591 X 4.6237
r = 0.947, P<0.001
80
Category
75
70
65
60
55
50
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
4. Discussion
Proper corrections of step height and hip angle can
accommodate a subject to perform a step test more
conveniently and that provides a better estimation of
aerobic capacity (Culpepper and Francis 1987). But,
the practical problem of such corrections is that it is
International Journal of Sport and Health Science Vol.6, 15-20, 2008
http://www.soc.nii.ac.jp/jspe3/index.htm
Bandyopadhyay, A.
5. Conclusion
From the present observation the Queens College
Step Test or QCT is recommended as a valid test
and alternative method of HST to evaluate PFI
by using the currently derived equation in young
sedentary females of Uttar Pradesh, India. Moreover,
application of QCT in the studied population will
simultaneously provide the PFI score as well as the
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Name:
Amit Bandyopadhyay
Affiliation:
Lecturer, School of Health Sciences
Address:
School of Health Sciences (PPSK), University Sains Malaysia,
Health Campus 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Brief Biographical History:
Academic Qualification:
Obt ai ne d Ba chelor of Scie nce ( B.Sc.) w it h Honou r s i n
Physiolog y and Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Physiolog y
with specialization in Sports & Exercise Physiology from the
University of Calcutta in 1997 and 1999, respectively, securing
First Class in both the examinations.
Awarded Ph.D. in September 2004 from the University of
Calcutta.
Research Experience:
Ongoing research career started in January 2000. Dr. Amit
Bandyopadhyay has been conducting various short and term and
long term research projects time to time in the field of Sports
and Exercise Physiology. Published twenty five (25) research
papers in the scientifi c journals of national and internatinal
repute. Many abstracts and full papers have been published in
the conference proceedings for the oral presentations. Prticipated
in conferences and other related scientific programs with invited
lectures and award winning papers.
Awards Received:
Received cash award under the National Scholarship Scheme of
Government of India for the outstanding performance in the B.
Sc. (Honours) Examination.
Honoured with prestigious Prof. B. B. Sarkar Memorial Research
Award in 2001 by The Physiological Society of India.
Awarded Dr. Satyaranjan Dasgupta Memorial Prize in 1999.
Teaching Experience:
Parallel with research, devoted in teaching as Permanent and
Pert-time or Guest Lecturer of General Human Physiology in
undergraduate and postgraduate courses of different Universities
since December 1999.
Currently working as a Lecturer of Exercise Physiology under
the Spor ts Science Prog ram me (underg raduate and postgraduate) of University Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
Hobby:
Playing Table Tennis, Traveling
Main Works:
Bandyopadhyay A. Anthropometry and body composition in
soccer and volleyball players in West Bengal, India. Journal of
Physiological Anthropology (Japan) 26: 501-505, 2007.
Bandyopadhyay A and Bandyopadhyay P. Cardiorespiratory
fitness in college students of Uttar Pradesh, India. Journal of
Exercise Science and Physiotherapy (India) 3: 38-41, 2007.
Bandyopadhyay A, Tripathy S, Kamal RB and Basak AK.
Peak expiratory flow rate in college students of Bareilly in
Uttar Pradesh, India. Indian Biologist (India) 39: 71-75, 2007.
Bandyopadhyay A, Basak AK, Tripathy S and Bandyopadhyay
P. Peak expiratory flow rate in female brick field workers of
West Bengal, India. Ergonomics SA (South Africa) 18: 22-27,
2006.
Bandyopadhyay A, Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P, Papadopoulou
SK and Hassapidou M. VO2 max of boys according to obesity
stat us. Jou r nal of Human Movement St udies (U K) 51:
167-180, 2006.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P, Bandyopadhyay A. Skinfold
thickness, body fat percentage and body mass index in obese
and non-obese Indian boys. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical
Nutrition (Australia) 15: 231-235, 2006.
Chatterjee S, Mitra SK, Chatterjee P and Bandyopadhyay A.
Pulmonary function in male brick field workers. Biomedicine
(India) 26: 53-59, 2006.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P and Bandyopadhyay A. Prediction
of maximal oxygen consumption from body mass, height and
body surface area in young sedentary subjects. Indian Journal
of Physiology and Pharmacology (India) 50: 181-186, 2006.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P and Bandyopadhyay A. Validity of
Queens college step test for estimation of maximum oxygen
uptake in young Indian women. Indian Journal of Medical
Research (India) 121: 32-35, 2005.
C h a t t e r j e e S , C h a t t e r j e e P a n d B a n d yo p a d h y a y A .
Cardiorespiratory fitness of obese boys. Indian Journal of
Physiology and Pharmacology (India) 49: 1-5, 2005.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P, Mukherjee PS and Bandyopadhyay
A. Validity of Queens college step test for use with young
Indian men. British Journal of Sports Medicine (UK) 38:
289-291, 2004.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P, De SK and Bandyopadhyay A.
Resting blood pressure and peak heart rate of smokers of
different age groups. Ergonomics SA (South Africa)16: 36-44,
2004.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P, Mukherjee PS and Bandyopadhyay
A. Vertical jump test on school going boys and girls. Indian
Journal of Physiology and Allied Sciences (India) 58: 66-69,
2004.
Bandyopadhyay A and Chatterjee S. Body composition,
morphological characteristics and their relationship with
cardiorespiratory fitness. Ergonomics SA (South Africa) 15:
19-27, 2003.
C h a t t e r je e P, Mu k h e r je e PS a n d B a n d yo p a d hyay A .
Assessment of body mass index, percentage of body fat,
skinfold and girth measurements in Bengalee School Boys.
Indian Biologist (India) 34: 51-57, 2002.
Chatterjee S, Chatterjee P, Mukherjee PS and Bandyopadhyay
A. Evaluation and interrelationship of body mass index,
percentage of body fat, skinfolds and girth measurements in
boys of 10-16 Years. Biomedicine (India), 22: 9-16; 2002.
Chatterjee P, Bandyopadhyay A, Bagri M and Lahiri S.
Physiological adaptation in arid and aquatic sportspersons.
Indian Journal of Physiology and Allied Sciences (India) 56:
98-104, 2002.
Chatterjee S, Bandyopadhyay A, Chatterjee P, Sen J and
Mukherjee PS. Shor t ter m training induced changes in
recovery cardiac cost and physical fitness index of smoker and
non-smoker university students. Indian Journal of Physiology
and Allied Sciences (India) 56: 16-24, 2002.
C h a t t e r j e e S , C h a t t e r j e e P a n d B a n d yo p a d h y a y A .
E n u m e r a t i o n of v a l i d i t y f o r p r e d i c t e d VO 2 m a x b y
Queens college step test in Bengalee boys. Indian Journal of
Physiology and Allied Sciences (India) 55: 123-127, 2001.
K a m a l R B , Tr i p a t h y S , J a i s w a l G , M i s h r a R a n d
Bandyopadhyay A. Blood level of vitamin C and vitamin E
19
Bandyopadhyay, A.
in undergraduate medical students of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Indian Journal of Physiology and Allied Sciences (India). (IN
PRESS)
Bandyopadhyay A. Physical parameters are good predictors
of cardiorespiratory fitness in male college students of India.
World Heart Journal (UK). (IN PRESS)
Bandyopadhyay A. Queens college step test - an alternative of
Harvard step test in young Indian men. International Journal
of Applied Sports Science (Korea). (IN PRESS)
Membership in Learned Societies:
Life member and Fellow of International College of Nutrition
(FICN).
Life member of The Physiological Society of India.
Member of the Indian Science Congress Association (Section:
Medical Sciences including Physiology).
Life member of the I ndian Associat ion of Biomedical
Scientists.
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